With the future of cars heading more and more towards autonomy, it is expected that crash rates on the road will be a director benefactor. However, it currently appears that the technology is more of a safety burden than safety feature according to reports out of the US.

Drivers in America have reported hundreds of reports in the past three years, claiming brakes are malfunctioning and leading to crashes and traffic incidents, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The most common complaint came from the automatic brakes deploying unexpectedly when there was no sign of danger, putting drivers at risk of the car coming to an unexpected halt on open roads. Some drivers also raised the issue of the brakes failing to deploy in an emergency situation where the driver has limited time to react.

Some drivers have even claimed that the automated braking system has been set off by driving over a railroad crossing, bringing their cars to a halt on the spot.

No fatalities have been reported yet, however, 14 complaints included a collision as a result of the malfunctioning braking system, with three individuals reporting injuries from crashes. 18 drivers have been injured by vehicles braking unexpectedly.

The automated braking system uses a series of cameras and sensors to detect objects and are supposed to deploy in the event that the driver doesn’t react quick enough.

The technology is expected to be a necessary development in autonomous vehicles, with advocates claiming the system has already prevented numerous crashes and potential deaths.

Car manufacturers including Nissan, Volkswagen and Honda have been made aware of the issue and are working to alleviate the causes.

Nissan has identified problems with the brakes malfunctioning while driving across bridges and railway crossings and under some traffic lights. The manufacturer is asking all affected owners to bring their vehicles to their nearest dealership for a software update.

It is estimated that 44.5% of all new vehicles sold in the US came equipped with automatic emergency brakes in 2018, and the technology will continue to evolve and improve as it is deployed for more vehicles.

Original source: The Australian | Complaints growing about autonomous braking systems ( Subscription required)

30 Aug 2019